ESSAY 1: If you were the chief minister of your state what actions/policies/strategies

would you undertake to deal with the problems persisting in your state. Start by

identifying the problems and then suggesting your plan of action to deal with the same.

Also, how do these actions/policies/strategies prove to be more beneficial than the already

existing ones?

A state that stuns everyone with its sheer size, high mountains, innumerous forts, symbolic

beaches and diverse culture! „Majha Maharashtra’ boasts of its uniqueness with the financial

capital of India and galvanic festivals.

Be it the never sleeping city, Mumbai ! Epicenter of Commerce and trade, pulsating and

fun: the city representing the Indian Cinema and home to a lot of dreamers from various nook

and corners of the country! Or the Queen of Deccan, Pune with fascinating forts. Or Kolhapur,

a legacy of valor and bravery! The reign of Chhatrapati Sahu Maharaj. Or the gateway to

World Heritage Sites, Aurangabad inscribing Ajanta and Ellora caves. Or the proximity to the

holy temples including the Shirdi shrine, Nashik! It wouldn‟t be Maharashtra, had there been

missing any one of these.

To even envisage, to be the Chief Minister of such a country like state brings a shine in every

aspirant‟s eyes and a feel of envy in the opponent‟s. As someone has rightfully said, “Nothing

is perfect” and so is the state I represent despite of all the qualities that I mentioned above. And

solely responsible is the ruling government and the past rulers as well.

I strongly feel that the solutions to the problems I am quoting in this essay would definitely

bring highly recognizable change if taken seriously.

Farmer suicide: “Farmer”, said to be the backbone of the Indian government are committing

suicides because of the failure in paying their debts. According to National Crime Records

Bureau report in 2010, 3141 farmers committed suicide in Maharashtra which increased

later in 2011, when 3337 farmers committed suicide which is the highest in the country. This

summons to a major issue in an agrarian country like India where around 60% of its people

depend upon agriculture.

Solutions? Monetary relief is not an effective one. Effective management of water for

irrigation should be implemented. Making institutional finance available to every farmer is an

important solution in order to save them from debts. Farmers need to be suggested and

guided on various economical methods of cultivation. Pooling the land of small farmers and

making it a big cultivable land could also be thought of an effective solution.

Security: The state has always been the most vulnerable in counts of terror attacks. In order to

fight, we need to strengthen our intelligence gathering ability and counteract to all the

attempts to destabilize our economy.

Anti North Indian Tirade of MNS: The „Maratha Manoos‟ has been the most crucial factor in

the elective parades in bagging the votes. If we talk about national unity, then the people

inscribing in the region should be taught to be show some respect about humanity.

Obviously I‟m little biased about this solution being an outsider, but if any such issue comes in

light in my state in future, I would be committed to fight against it.

Naxalism: Naxalism certainly is a burning issue in the state and parties exploit the public

outrage over the rising killings. Gadchiroli district which is a stronghold of the Naxalites

borders Chhattisgarh and it has witnessed many deadly attacks. These problems need to be

encountered effectively.

Apart from various above mentioned issues, Maharashtra deals with certain other concerns that

needs to be dealt with special policies and vital strategies such as the perennial fights over

Belgaum, environmental degradation, lack of clean water, corruption, inflation and

transportation problem in Mumbai as well as other regions of Maharashtra.

Some other policies throwing light on various suggestions/plans and actions:

1. Youthful entrants are expected to rise up to 20% in upcoming 5 years, absorbing these

workers would be required to major extent. So launching up several building projects is

essential.

2. Such development projects would facilitate both employment as well as wage rise and even

construct GDP growth depending on Infrastructure. For eg. Prime Minister Rojgar Yojna

(PMRY).

3. Develop an Industrial Park in every Assembly constituency. MLA/MP funds should be

mandated to set up Small and medium Enterprises in association with Private entrepreneurs, and

appropriate to that region „requirement. Target to create 10,000 employments every year.

4. Public enterprises need to be established as independent entities, responsible for their own

financial and administration.

5. 100 percent coverage in water supply, drainage and waste disposal.

6. Increase forest cover by Tree planting in mission mode in all waste private lands, so that

roaming eyes never miss a Green belt all around the State.

7. Develop Joint sector Industrial projects in all districts to produce everything that is

consumed in Maharashtra by the State and Public.

8. Drive away all superstitious practice embedded in culture by extensive knowledge infusion.

9. E-governance in every department including digital signatures and E-payment: This

will reduce corruption.

10. Disinvestment of state run companies and encouraging competitiveness

11. Decentralization and Distribution of State budget evenly to all the districts.

12. Solar Cities, Solar highways and generating more power from non renewable energy

(Offering subsidies).

13. Uninterrupted power supply- Privatization of power distribution.

14. To ban posters (especially Vinyl), meetings, erecting flags, conducting functions in public

roads.

15. Clean toilets in public places.

16. Department especially for Encroachment Removal. This will take care pedestrian

encroachment and protect public properties like lakes and land meant for parks or common

space.

17. Digitization of land records.

18. Underground drainage and sewage treatment for all towns and cities.

19. Linking all rivers in the state(Creating lakes in arid area) and preventing water draining to

sea during monsoon. this will improve Agricultural output and water resources.

20. Quality Education to all(compulsory) and reduction of reservation in higher education

21. All district hospitals to have all the specialties. Raising the standard to become a referral

center.

22. Police to police the police.

23. Tickets instead of collecting payment directly from public in case of violation in traffic.

Stringent Driving test with video coverage of testing skills to avoid people with poor driving

skills from getting license and preventing corruption. Fitness certificate for public transportation

with random quality check from testing centers in every district.

24. No freebies in exchange to votes.